William h



UNITED STATES PATENT EErcE.

WVILLIAM H. FRANCIS, OF GALLIPOLIS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO R. P. THOMPSON, OF SAME PLACE.

STOVE-TO P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,997, dated December 21, 1897.

Application filed May 13, 1897. Serial No. 636,318. (No model.)

T0 at whom. it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. FRANCIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gallipolis, in the county of Gallia, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stove-Tops, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has relation to stove-tops, and more particularly to that portion of the top known in the art as the long center and which forms a portion of the supporting means for the lids and their adjacent parts.

The invention has for its object to render this long center readily reversible to remedy the warping of the center caused by the heat of the fire beneath the same.

It has for a further object to construct and.

' Figure 1 is a top plan of a stove-topembodyin position in dotted lines.

ing the invention, with the long center shown Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of one end of the long center.

Like letters refer to like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The letter A designates a stove-top provided with the usual apertures A, into which fit the stove-lids and their adjacent supporting parts. The top plate A is also provided with the aperture A at which point the stove smoke-pipe is connected. Between the adjoining apertures A thetop plate is provided with projecting portions A each of which is provided with a seat or flange A which engage the opposite ends of a long center B. This long center extends from one projecting portion to the other, so as to form a continuous supporting portion for one end of the short centers 0. These short centers 0 are provided with semicircular seats 0, upon which and a similar seat on the top plate the stove-lid D is supported.

At one end of the seat or flange A a shoulder or stop A is formed, against which will abut a corresponding shoulder B, provided on the long center B, to limit the lateral movement of the center. The opposite ends of the long center are provided with grooves or ways B and the metal at opposite sides thereof forms lips B adapted to bear upon the opposite sides of the flanges A formed on the top plate. One of the shoulders B is formed at the opposite end of each of these lips, so that when the center is reversed the shoulder will be in proper position to engage the shoulder or stop A on the top plate. Upon each longitudinal side of the long cen ter a seat or flange B is provided, upon which one end of the adjacent short center 0 will rest, and when in this position the short center will prevent any sliding movement of the long. center, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.. The stops A prevent movement of the long center in one direction, .while the short center looks it against any movement in the opposite direction. The grooves B and flanges A hold the part against any Vertical movement.

It may be stated that 'the connection between the flanges A and the grooves or ways B on the long center will not fit closely upon each other, but a slight play is allowed to accommodate the expansion of the parts when thesame are heated. It is also obvious that 8 the relations of the grooves and flanges may be reversed-that is, the grooves formed in the projections A and the flanges upon the opposite ends of the long center.

By the construction of parts when the long center becomes warped from any cause the same can be reversed, and byits use in a reversed position the warped portion will soon resume its original position. The center can be very readily applied by simply sliding the 5 same into position and will be firmly held therein by the short center, which will bear against one side of the long center and prevent any movement of the latter whereby it might be accidentally displaced. The con- 10o nection of the long center with the top plate prevents any vertical movement of the center which might occur in the lifting of the lids were it not held firmly againstvertical movement.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a stove-top, the combination ith a ,top

plate having a stop thereon, of a long center having horizontal portions interlocking with said plate to permit the center to he slid into position and to prevent vertical movement of said center and provided With stops at one side thereof upon its upper and lower faces {to limit the movement of said center in one direction, and a short center bearing against 15 said long center to lock it against movement in the opposite direction, substantially as specified.

In testim ny wh reo .Z fL my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

' \VILLIAM I-I. FRANCIS. Witnesses:

M. F. MERRIMAN, T. G. BELOHER. 

